We studied the elastic properties and mechanical stability of viral capsids under external force-loading with computer simulations. Our approach allows the implementation of specific geometries corresponding to specific phages, such as phi29 and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus. We demonstrate how, in a combined numerical and experimental approach, the elastic parameters can be determined with hig...

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY Vigna unguiculata is an economically important legume, and the complexity of its variability and evolution needs to be further understood. Based on publicly available databases, we developed chloroplast microsatellite primers to investigate genetic diversity within V. unguiculata and its related species Phaseolus vulgaris. • METHODS AND RESULTS Twelve polymo...

BACKGROUND The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Wap.) is an excellent source of iron and zinc. However, iron from plant sources is poorly absorbed compared with iron from animal sources. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate iron and zinc bioaccessibility in cowpea cultivars after processing. METHODS Zinc and iron bioaccessibilities in cowpea samples were determined based on an...

The effect of temperature on Hill activity has been compared in chilling-sensitive and chilling-resistant plants. The Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) for the photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol by chloroplasts isolated from two chilling-sensitive plants, mung bean (Vigna radiata L. var. Mungo) and maize (Zea mays L. cv. PX 616), increased at low temperatures, below 17 C for mung bea...

Cold-induced changes in vivo in the cytoplasmic pH of suspension-cultured cells of mung bean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) were investigated by fluorescence-ratio imaging cryomicroscopy with special reference to the variations in the chilling sensitivity of cells during the growth cycle. Because of the preferential localization of the fluorophore in the cytoplasm under specified conditions and t...

The establishment of a root nodule symbiosis between a leguminous plant and a rhizobium requires complex molecular interactions between the two partners. Compatible interactions lead to the formation of nitrogen-fixing nodules, however, some legumes exhibit incompatibility with specific rhizobial strains and restrict nodulation by the strains. Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 is incompatible with ...

PLANT ROOTS WERE MECHANICALLY INJURED OR SUBJECTED TO NEMATODE PARASITISM TO TEST THE MODEL OF HOST DAMAGE BY TWO NEMATODE SPECIES: y = m' + (l - m')c'z(P)z(P) for y 1.0, where m' = m + (m - m) (1 - y)/[(1 - y) + (l - y)] and c' = (z(-T) + z(-T))/2. Damage functions for greenhouse-grown radish plants (cv. Cherry Belle) mechanically injured with small or large steel n...

The leakage of solutes from foliar tissue is utilized as a dynamic measure of apparent changes in membrane integrity in response to desiccation. It is found that rehydrating leaf discs of cowpea (Vigna sinensis [L.] Endl.) show increasing leakiness in proportion to the extent of prior desiccation, whereas Selaginella lepidophylla Spring., a resurrection plant, does not. The elevated leakage rat...

Conserving crop wild relatives (CWR) is critical for maintaining food security. However, CWR-focused conservation plans are lacking, and are often based on the entire genus, even though only a few taxa are useful for crop improvement. We used taxonomic and geographic prioritisation to identify the best locations for in situ conservation of the most important (priority) CWR, using African cowpea...

Cowpea is an important tropical crop. It provides a large proportion of the food resource for the African human population and their livestock. The yield and quality of cowpea have been dramatically improved through traditional breeding strategies for the past few decades. However, reports of heritability estimates for early growth of cowpea are rare. We designed a simple experiment to estimate...